I'm Doing It---My Way

Oh yes, I hear it all the time and I use to say it too. "I don't ever want to get old," Well, I'm here to tell you---"it ain't soooo bad." There are tricks to this trade just like everything else in life. All you have to do is get a big---attitude in a positive manner which will get you a lot farther and for some unknown reason people accept and expect you too?

When we are young an middle aged we have so many pressures and hang-ups. We are working so hard to try and save for our old-age, that we just simply follow the herd down the same old path. Yes indeed I did all those things. Of course in the work force you had to keep up your appearance. I never had a gray hair until the day I retired, (Clairol dyes) its stock probably dropped soon after.

Clothes---Oh yes they had to be the latest fashions and that label that many times showed at the collar---that too was very important. That cost probably would have sent me on a cruise around this old world.

Entertainment---now who are we trying to impress? We couldn't really stand half of those people that we didn't say no to when they insisted that we go to some boring party or expensive restaurant.

Retirement Day:

Yes, that day was one I will never forget. Driving from D.C. to my little house tucked in the hills of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. I could not wait. First: I rolled down the window on the car somewhere on Interstate 70, I threw my wrist watch out, hoping an eighteen-wheeler would run over it for I never wanted to ever have to be some where at a certain time ever again. I even tried to get my bra off but it was to difficult and drive at the same time, if I had succeeded it would have joined the wrist watch.

Now as you can plainly see, my hair is snowy white and wrinkles are not covered with all that make-up and my clothes for some strange reason are now in fashion and I have helped Wal-Mart's stock rise to some degree.

Fashion:

I look down at my tee-shirt. Hum---that spot looks like spaghetti sauce and that spot???, well after studying it for a moment I'm sure it must have been there when I bought it last summer. I will just change my tee-shirt and that will take care of that problem.

Something that I should have thrown out a long time ago is that full length mirror on the back of the bedroom door. That always startles me---no my friends that is not a pretty sight. I am sure that all those years when I dyed my hair it must have kept it heavier and it laid down in place. Now it just sticks straight out in the direction of 3:00 and 9:00 o'clock. Well again that's no big problem that can not be solved with a hat, isn't that what most people use them for?

Now don't get me wrong, there are some obstacles that do get in the way and can be rather annoying.

#1. When I opened the refrigerator to get the quart of milk---there sat the can of coffee---now how did that get in there?

#2. I went to a store in another town that I had been to many times before and for some crazy reason they must have moved that Burger-King, Pizza joint and the gas-station off of that corner that I always turned left at. Now why would they do that? Don't they know that we don't read those little street signs, we go by the buildings.

Parking:

Something to think about? When you go to a Mall you will see people driving up and down the lanes and most of these people are younger folks. Why are they trying to get as close to the entrance of the store as they can? Some will even park in the handicapped space. The odds are that these are the same folks that pay to go to the gym and walk on a tread-mill and they can't walk from their car to the store entrance????

I solved that problem by parking way-way out in the lot and walking to the store entrance---no tread-mill for me, also that solves another issue, when those same folks come out of the store they push their key alarms numerous times so that their car can call to them where they have forgotten where they parked it. No, I just simply look to the back of the lot and there is my ride and it doesn't even have to whistle, honk or play a tune it just sits there and patiently waits while I get my simple exercise.

Yes, folks being a senior citizen has its advantages and all you have to do is just be yourself. Just chill out and before you even know it, all those hang-ups that we had when we were young will just disappear and you won't even remember them.

Comments

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Ginn Navarre 8 years ago

apeksha, it will be what ever you make it!

apeksha 8 years agofrom India.

All you have to do is get a big---attitude in a positive manner which will get you a lot farther and for some unknown reason people accept and expect you too?

good ...I also dont wan be old...

Author

Ginn Navarre 8 years ago

Hey--Hey Cris, I'm just an ole hippie and I'm gonna do it MY WAY. Sometimes it has got me in trouble I admit but you only go around once.

Cris A 8 years agofrom Manila, Philippines

Ms Ginn

What can I say? I was smiling the whole time while reading this. You my friend is a fine example of how it is to live life to the fullest and aging gracefully. You are truly a light that makes me want to be a better man. Thanks for always sharing your stories - personal or otherwise. :D

And another thing, YOU ROCK!

Author

Ginn Navarre 8 years ago

Frieda thanks, yes when they hand us that tool and expect us to use it---we don't want to disapoint them---keep on building!!!!

Frieda Babbley 8 years ago

Wonderful article, Ginn. So, I guess I'm almost there. It is crazy that there's an expectance for that old person attitude. I'm building mine up as we speak.

Author

Ginn Navarre 8 years ago

Jerilee, You are doing great----Mom's know!!!!!!!!! I hope that I have given you the right tools and now all you have to do use them. love ya.

Author

Ginn Navarre 8 years ago

Adrianna, your headed in the right direction---writing has got me through all those rough bumps in the road of life. Positive thinking and laughter has been all the medicine I need---go girl!!!

Feline thanks, a few laughs and smiles are always the best way.

Jerilee Wei 8 years agofrom United States

I'm embracing old age as I find it's a very handy excuse for my life long short term memory problems. The older I get the less inhibited I've become.

Feline Prophet 8 years ago

Love your spirit GN! Your way is the best way! :)

Adrianna's Pages 8 years ago

Hey Ginn...I am a nurse and I can tell you first hand that old-age "ain't" for cissies...lol

I am right smack dab into the middle of "middle-age", presently, and am just begining to stretch my wings.

Kids gone, hubby's tucked away in his La-bor-A-tory(the garage), and some of the folks around me are begining to retire.

That's why I started writing. I needed to nurture something else. myself.

Great read...You're a riot woman!

I'll keep lookin' for ya;-)

Adrianna

Author

Ginn Navarre 8 years ago

Christa, yes it is what ever you make it--always keep room for laughter.